raspberry leaf tea - when to start?

[littleElif]

Hi,

does anybody drink raspberry leaf tea over here? DD1 was 12 days late and only came after being induced... so thought I give it a try.

but my MW is not sure when to start drinking it and told me to ask in the health shop. the lady in the health/tea shop told me to double check with my MW. I am none the wiser now..

I am now almost 36 weeks. Is this ok to start drinking it? also, how many cups a day do you have?

Thanks,
Elif

Hi Elif - it's definitely the right time to start drinking it now. I think any time during the third trimester is right (I'm 35 weeks and have been drinking it twice daily for the last week). I've heard lots of good things... most recently my friend had her baby in 3 hours (week 40) after drinking raspberry leaf tea for the previous 4 weeks. I know you can't prove the link, but it sounds good enough to give it a try! i recently found a great answer to a similar question to yours on yahoo answers... someone had given lots of links to research, which showed (i) that drinking the tea can lead to a shorter second stage of labour (but not necessarily a shorter first stage) and (ii) that it actually prevents premature birth too. So contrary to popular belief, it won't actually trigger labour - it'll just make the birth process easier.

thanks - will have a google for this yahoo link as well. just having my first cup and I have to admit I really like the taste as well :-)

I started drinking it at 36 weeks, 1 cup a day for the first week, then up to 2 cups a day. im 38+3 now and having 2/3 a day. i missed a few the last two days (slaps on wrist) but will continue to drink until baby arrives and beyond as its meant to be beneficial after the birth to in regards to the uterus shrinking back to size :)

My mw told me to drink it instead of normal tea, so I'm having 3 or 4 cups a day. It definitely isn't meant to bring labour on, but she said there was a study in monkeys which showed it does seem to shorten the second stage of labour. The Heath and Heather ones from Holland and Barratt don't taste at all bad, either.

How early can you start do drink it? I actually love the taste but am only 20 weeks. i keep seeing conflicting info. Incidentally I drank it a bit with dd and had a ten hr labour but a 10 minute pushing out second stage. DS ( i drank it a lot) was 1 hr 32 mins from start to finish and i pushed him out in 2 pushes lol

It doesn't help to bring on labour, it just strengthens the uterus (apparently) therefore making contractions stronger nd more efficient but I would say don't waste your money. I started drinking it twice, maybe three times a day during the 3rd trimester only to end up with an OP baby, 3 day labour, inefficient and irregular contractions ending in an EMCS so I'm not even going to bother this time around. If you don't like the taste of it you can buy it in tablet form which are supposed to be just as good.

I was told 3 times a day, from the start of the thrd trimester, so 28-29 weeks. . Am 26 weeks. Might need to pop to H&B and stock up!

I've been taking the tablets since 32 weeks and did the same with first pregnancy too - had a fairly swift and easy labour and hoping to replicate!

Tbh I wouldn't bother. Drank it when pg with my first (11 days late, 25 hour labour - though short 2nd stage - and a lot of bleeding during labour) didn't have it when pg with my second ( 9 days late, 16 hour labour, no pain relief and no major bleeding). I read after my first that raspberry leaf tea can cause bleeding in labour which is why I avoided it second time round, plus I hated the taste - spend the money on chocolate instead. [grin!]